Most state have an official state bird , but it ’s less common for a city to declare an official razzing . About 28 American cities have proclaimed a fowl of choice : Chicago ’s is theperegrine falconand Key West , Florida ’s is thechicken — and then there ’s Madison , Wisconsin .
In 2009 , Madison declared the pinkish flamingo its official bird — the plastic pink flamingo . The flamingo obviously is n’t native to Wisconsin , and theinventorof the plastic yard flamingo was from Massachusetts , not the Badger State .
So , what give ? In 1979 , a few member of the educatee government at the University of Wisconsin - Madison decided to prank the dean . The group , known as the Pail & Shovel Party , was already known for their tricks . They were responsible for the replica of the Statue of Libertystuckin Lake Mendota the previous yr . They also threw a $ 10,000 toga company for the educatee body — approvedby John Belushi himself — and purchased toy to give to student wait in long lines at social class readjustment .
This fourth dimension , they be after a prank that would also be the perfect“Welcome Back ” message to students . On the first day of the fallsemester , they grace the lawn near the dean ’s role with exactly1008of the mawkish shuttlecock .
In honor of the frivolous but historic flamingo incident , local paper columnist Doug Moelobbiedin 2009 to have the miniature name the official birdie of the metropolis . " I mean , Madison is a city with five prescribed song , " he drop a line . " Our council once contend renaming Bassett Street Ho Chi Minh Trail . Our manhole covers are sewer entree cover . Through it all , we ’ve always manage to express joy at ourselves . So what better symbol than the plastic pinkish flamingo ? "
The City Council vote in favour of the status , 15 - 4 . “ If you do n’t have a short playfulness , [ living ] ’s not worth living , ” Councilwoman Marsha Rummelsaid .
Today , the legacy lives on in more than just the flamingo ’s status as the prescribed snort of the city : One of the infamous raspberry has beenarchivedat the Wisconsin Historical Society .
